One of my co-workers is going to school part-time to become a geologist. We were discussing his homework, which happened to be a question on pollution in lakes, and it evolved into a discussion on dead bodies on the bottom of lakes.

We had a fine conversation, but the person sitting with us thought we were insane.

Logged

You are only young once. After that you have to think up some other excuse.

One of my co-workers is going to school part-time to become a geologist. We were discussing his homework, which happened to be a question on pollution in lakes, and it evolved into a discussion on dead bodies on the bottom of lakes.

My father was the superintendent for the entire sewer maintenance department of the city of Johannesburg and Soweto. You can only imagine the things we thought were normal conversation!

I once told a friend of mine that stuff found in sewers wasn't thrown away, but sterilized and used, and he turned green. We weren't even eating at the time!

kathrynne

I'm amazed nobody's mentioned it yet, but if you want the classic glassy-eyed stare just get two or more very knowledgeable computer geeks together at a meal--and check out their spouses' expressions when the Geek Speak gets animated. The same goes for multiple "Car Guys" or any other "experts" at a gathering.

I realize the stereotypical asocial geek like DH may not have a whole lot else to talk about, but when he starts specifying server serial numbers, model numbers, software updates and "undocumented features," it's time for someone to swoop in and rescue the spouses before we go catatonic.

I'm amazed nobody's mentioned it yet, but if you want the classic glassy-eyed stare just get two or more very knowledgeable computer geeks together at a meal--and check out their spouses' expressions when the Geek Speak gets animated. The same goes for multiple "Car Guys" or any other "experts" at a gathering.

I realize the stereotypical asocial geek like DH may not have a whole lot else to talk about, but when he starts specifying server serial numbers, model numbers, software updates and "undocumented features," it's time for someone to swoop in and rescue the spouses before we go catatonic.

Oh, and why the latest patch to fik the newest bug has a bug in it, and the conspiracy theories surrounding why the bugs are present in the first place...been there...done that...went catatonic. My mom and I were pretty sure we were drooling out the corners of our mouths by the time the "geek faction" realized we were not participating in the conversation.

I'm amazed nobody's mentioned it yet, but if you want the classic glassy-eyed stare just get two or more very knowledgeable computer geeks together at a meal--and check out their spouses' expressions when the Geek Speak gets animated. The same goes for multiple "Car Guys" or any other "experts" at a gathering.

I realize the stereotypical asocial geek like DH may not have a whole lot else to talk about, but when he starts specifying server serial numbers, model numbers, software updates and "undocumented features," it's time for someone to swoop in and rescue the spouses before we go catatonic.

Oh, and why the latest patch to fik the newest bug has a bug in it, and the conspiracy theories surrounding why the bugs are present in the first place...been there...done that...went catatonic. My mom and I were pretty sure we were drooling out the corners of our mouths by the time the "geek faction" realized we were not participating in the conversation.

Argh! I hate this! A really egregious example happened to me when I went out with 4 other friends. 4, you'd think, would be enough to find someone to have a normal conversation with.

No.

Two people turned to discussing how cocaine was their favorite drug in college. Uhh, no opinion. I turned to the other two, only to find a discussion in progress about the categorical imperative and it's influence on nacho cheese, or something like that. Oooh-K. Tried to change the topic, but to no avail. So I sat in the middle, nursing my beer. Staring out the window. One of the former coke-heads asked me about my cocaine-based experiences, I said I didn't have anything to say on this topic, could we maybe talk about something else? "Aha", said the friend, and, turning his back to me, turned back to his conversation.

Kena

Two people turned to discussing how cocaine was their favorite drug in college.

:PI had that happen to me on a 2nd date with a guy! Why he would think that that was a good topic for a conversation on a date is beyond me. I don't think I look like someone who partakes in "recreational pharmaceuticals."

Speech therapy and "tongue thrust" when a third of the guests had no kids yet and the guest of honor at the going away party had kids in their twenties.............

It was enough to scare me off going to meetings of that organization for about twenty years. I did have kids at home when I finally dared try again - some 1200 miles away from the original location, as well.

My SO is a nurse (OR and has worked ER and psych) and I have two boys ages 10 and 11 -- gross conversation is the norm for us!

Logged

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

I can't believ I didn't remeber this one before now, it does require a bit of set-up...

it is the beginning of the school year. We have a half-day with kids with teachers meeting in the afternoon. The kids leave and a group of us get together to go out to eat. Some of us (me) have been in the building for a long time, some of us have a few years in there, some are brand new.

We share news and family updates. Teacher A relates concern that the house her parents are renting might currently be used as a drug house due to frequent coming and going of various cars all hours of the night and day. Teacher J who (too) freely shares info about her wild life before teaching comments:

"That sounds like my house when ex-hubby and I were selling drugs."

Me: "You sold them from your house?!" (I knew she had been a user but this was new info)

Teacher J: "Yeah we sold what we weren't using. Sometimes we'd get high and when the kids came down in the morning we'd have painted the family room another color."

Me: (Because really, what can you say?)

Teacher J: "We stopped selling after we accidentally blew up the kitchen."

The new teachers keep looking at me and I realize they are waiting for the punch line, completely sure they are being put on. Sorry, not so much.

Teacher J had to be finger printed before being hired so I guess she never got caught for this stuff. No idea why she shares it with other professionals, especially ones she just met. She's clean now but Ithink her years of hard living have taken a toll on her health and memory.